WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025 | |
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Follow Your Star:
Epiphany to be Celebrated this Sunday!
It is a prayer practice in churches all over the world to give people a star word at Epiphany. There are many reasons behind this tradition. First, we know that the Magi followed a star, which ultimately led them to Jesus.
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Therefore, we too use all the resources we have available to us—including creative prayer practices and intention words for the new year—to move closer to Jesus. Secondly, we trust that God uses multiple ways to guide us and speak to us. Star words are one such lens that might provide us with a way to look for God in our midst, both actively and in hindsight. Finally, we know that the most common prayer practice for many involves speaking to God, as opposed to silence or contemplation.
During worship this Sunday, as you come to the communion table, you will be invited to take a star of your own, to be used as a form of guidance, prayer, and connection to God’s presence in your daily life. If you cannot attend on Sunday, you can email Ashley Brown and she will send you a star word, or you can pick up a star on the table outside the Chapel during the week.
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Community Day at Okra Abbey
Join us this Saturday, January 4, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for Community Day at Okra Abbey! We'll share a pancake breakfast and lead activities for neighborhood families. Activities will include gardening, cooking, handing out supplies, and leading art activities. All ages are invited to participate! Learn more and sign up below.
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Volunteer in the New Year!
Are you searching for a way to put your unique talents to use through the ministry of the church? In a few minutes, you can take our Ministry Match Survey and find opportunities personalized for you here at SCAPC and in the communities we serve.
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Year-End Gifts & 2025 Pledges
When we make a commitment to Christ, our lives are transformed and our faith deepens. All of our ministries, both within and beyond our congregation, are simply not possible without your financial gifts. We encourage all who are fulfilling a 2024 Stewardship pledge or who wish to make a year-end gift to the church to visit our donation page at scapc.org/donate. We also continue to invite 2025 pledges, which can be made by visiting our pledge page at scapc.org/pledge.
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New Sunday School Classes | |
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FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN AMERICA
Begins Sunday! January 5-February 9
Led by Richard Ashmore | Land Building, Riverside Room (recorded)
For four centuries, the United States has grappled with how best to relate church and state. This class will focus on the concept/ideal/principle/experiment called “Freedom of Religion.” We will learn that Freedom of Religion is not a simple, long-standing, and well-established fact in our country. Instead, Freedom of Religion in America is a unique, wonderful, complicated, contested, and audacious work in progress with many historical twists and turns and an unknown future. We will explore the historical highlights of this highly important work in progress.
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THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO A SITCOM WRITER
January 12-February 23 | Phifer Library
You would think it strange if someone suddenly ascended into heaven, right? Reading between the lines, do we detect a touch of rivalry between Peter (the Rock) and John (the disciple who Jesus loved)? And surely the lack of parables in the latter’s mystical tome is simply crying out to be discussed! This class will playfully explore the four Gospels and be enlightened in the process.
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THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE INSTITUTION: A CREATIVE WORKSHOP OF FAITH AND BELONGING
January 12-April 6 | Led by Ashley Brown and Tyler Wheeler
2nd Floor Conference Room
In this interactive class, we invite you to explore how to identify and nurture your personal faith beliefs while understanding how they align with the broader Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). Drawing on diverse resources— such as our Book of Order and Book of Confessions to lesser known Reformed Theologians who helped shaped PCUSA theology, we will engage in a deep reflection on our personal journeys of faith. In this class, you are encouraged to ask questions, love your doubts, and join in thoughtful discussion as we explore together what it truly means to be Christian within the context of our church community.
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Combined Children's Class this Sunday
Please note that this Sunday, children 3-years-old through 5th grade are invited to Frampton Fellowship Hall at 9:30 for an Epiphany class.
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Help Yourself to a Poinsettia!
Poinsettias that adorned our Sanctuary during the season of Advent will be available in Frampton Fellowship Hall this Sunday for anyone who wishes to bring one home.
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WNO Returns Next Wednesday! | |
PRAYER BOARDS: This Wednesday, January 8, our opening program of the new year will be "prayer boards". We will be constructing personal visual prayers for the year ahead that can be taped to mirrors, placed in bibles, or put on fridges. WNO dinner is served weekly at 6 p.m. in Frampton Fellowship Hall. The cost is $10/adult, $5/child, and $25/family. Make your reservations on the SCAPC app or on our WNO page. Reservations are due Mondays at 5 p.m. Please bring any old magazines you have! | |
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NEW PASTOR'S STUDY: Before WNO dinner, a pastor-led study is held weekly at 5:15 p.m. in the Phifer Library. Next Wednesday we will begin a study on the book Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine. All are welcome! | |
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Presbyterian Women's Retreat: New Deadline!
The deadline to register for our 2025 Presbyterian Women’s Retreat, taking place January 19-20 at the Solomon Conference Center in Loranger, LA, has been moved to this Friday, January 3. Our theme this year is “Grounded by God”, led by Rev. Jessie Light-Wells, with liturgy by Sarah Chancellor-Watson. We will worship and pray together, study scripture, renew friendships, and simply recharge our batteries. To learn more about our speaker and theme and to register, go to scapc.org/pw-retreat. Printed registration forms can also be picked up on the table outside the church office.
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Presbyterian Women Recognized for Gift to Eden Centers
In their year-end newsletter, Eden Centers for Health and Healing thanked SCAPC Presbyterian Women for the Christmas tree they donated to the Eden House residence. Eden Centers are one of our 20 Community Ministry Partners.
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Advent & Christmas Eve Worship
On Sunday, December 22, 571 congregants joined us for our annual Celebration of Carols service with the Chancel Choir and Orchestra (plus 375 online views). Over 1000 worshipers attended our Christmas Eve services! Pictured here are moments from the Family Service. You can view recent services on our YouTube page.
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Longest Night Service
On the evening of Sunday, December 22, we held a "Longest Night Service of Wholeness and Healing" in the columbarium. The focus was on supporting one another during times of grief, loneliness, and struggle that sometimes arise during the Christmas season. We acknowledged that the light shines in the darkness in this and all seasons. Luminaries were lit in memory of the SCAPC members who passed away in the last year.
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Nursery School Nativity Chapel
Led by Chris Currie, the SCAPC Nursery School children acted out the nativity scene during their weekly Chapel service!
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Intergenerational Service
This past Sunday morning, an intergenerational service was held, during which the Advent/Christmas story was recounted from the perspectives of different Biblical characters, and all were invited to lay a heart in Jesus' cradle.
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Youth Alumni College Dinner
Last weekend, SCAPC youth alumni now attending college gathered at Superior Grill for a fun reunion! Pictured from left to right are William Lowe (LSU), Charlie Lowe (LSU), Lock Gottsche (University of Alabama), Grace Fleshman (Millsaps), Harrison Hurley (Tulane), Matthew Foss (ULL), Jane Andrews (Loyola), and Emma Randels-LaRocca (Bates).
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New Member
Join us in welcoming new member Jessica Barnard who became a SCAPC member on Sunday, December 22!
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